Neshaminy football preview

Friday

The skinny: Schmidt says Wombough, who saw minimal varsity action as a junior, worked as hard as anyone in the offseason.

RUNNING BACKS

D’Andre Pollard (5-7, 170, Jr.)

Trokon Buesmaill (5-6, 170, Sr.)

Denny Lord (6-1, 225, Sr.)

The skinny: This group is deep. Pollard averaged 7.7 yards per carry in limited action behind now-graduated Nate Hall (1,842 rushing yards in ‘12). Lord and Blake Sullivan are an impressive pair of fullbacks.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Denzel Hughes (6-1, 170, So.)

Cole Creighton (5-10, 185, Sr.)

Hamid Pack (6-0, 175, Jr.)

The skinny: There are some interesting play-makers here. Creighton caught 14 passes as junior.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Mike Palmer (6-4, 265, Sr.)

Dan Johnson (6-2, 235, Sr.)

John Koch (6-0, 245, Sr.)

Brendan Byrne (6-2, 240, Sr.)

Matt Wynne (5-11, 260, Sr.)

Luke Carrezola (6-3, 242, Sr.)

The skinny: Palmer, quick guard Johnson and center Koch are returning starters. Tight end Carrezola’s blocking on corner is key.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

DEFENSIVE LINE

Luke Carrezola (6-3, 242, Sr.)

Blake Sullivan (6-1, 246, Sr.)

Alex Nicolas (5-7, 200, Sr.)

Mike Palmer (6-4, 265, Sr.)

The skinny: Carrezola is a major force at DE. Sullivan and Dorian Arthur are solid on the other edge. Nicolas disrupts the interior.

LINEBACKERS

Denny Lord (6-1, 224, Sr.)

Trokon Buesmaill (5-6, 170, Sr.)

Cole Creighton (5-10, 185, Sr.)

The skinny: Lord moved to inside ‘backer. Athletic, sharp Creighton moves from secondary to play an OLB/SS hybrid. Buesmaill moves from corner to OLB.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Devon Brown (5-11, 170, Sr.)

Matt Magdelinskas (5-10, 165, Jr.)

Denzel Hughes (6-1, 170, So.)

Stephen Pirritano (5-11, 175, Sr.)

The skinny: Speed and development of Magdelinskas and Brown at the corners allowing other position changes that make the overall defense faster.

Special teams

Dylan McDonald (6-1, 150, Fr.)

Chris Watson (5-11, 170, Sr.)

The skinny: McDonald, a good soccer player, will handle placekicking, Watson the punting.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

Head coach: Mark Schmidt

Head coaching experience: 18 years

Coach’s record: 148-64

School’s record in the last 10 years: 92-32

Last playoff experience: 2012

Last conference title: 2010

Starters Lost: Offense 4

Defense 4

2013 Schedule

Friday NORTHEAST 7

Sept. 6 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 7

Sept. 12 At SOUDERTON 7

Sept. 20 WILLIAM TENNENT 7

Sept. 27 HARRY S TRUMAN 7

Oct. 4 At CR NORTH 7

Oct. 11 At CR SOUTH 7

Oct. 18 BENSALEM 7

Oct. 25 At ABINGTON 7

Nov. 1 At PENNSBURY 7

2012 RESULTS (9-4)

Neshaminy 24, Northeast 0

Neshaminy 45, Hatboro-Horsham 0

Souderton 18, Neshaminy 7

William Tennent 20, Neshaminy 17

Neshaminy 48, Harry S Truman 13

Neshaminy 38, CR North 26

Neshaminy 21, CR South 14

Neshaminy 42, Bensalem 33

Neshaminy 21, Abington 14

Pennsbury 7, Neshaminy 0

Neshaminy 42. PW 21

Neshaminy 14, CB South 7

Coatesville 63, Neshaminy 28

OPPONENT’S VIEW

“What Mark (Schmidt) does year-in, year-out is impressive. They’re at the point where they just re-load. The run they went on in the playoffs with a young group was impressive. They’re well-coached, talented, a tough football team. Playing them is a measuring stick for your program.”

HITTING THE SLED...

HEADLINE GRABBER

Denny Lord has been a vital, versatile player for Neshaminy since his freshman year. Strong, smart and athletic, he is at the forefront of the Redskins’ physical play as a fullback and inside linebacker. Last year he rushed for eight touchdowns and made nine tackles for losses. He earned first-team all-conference honors on defense and was second team on offense.

UP AND COMER

Every year Neshaminy seems to have a runner with that extra burst who tops 1,000 yards. D’Andre Pollard, a promising junior, leads a deep stable of running backs, some of whom also are key players defensively. Schmidt says Pollard is a natural runner who is exceptional at finding and exploiting open spaces.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Lopsided district semifinal loss to eventual state runnerup Coatesville convinced Redskin staff its defense needed to be quicker on the perimeter. It is, thanks to moves made and the readiness of players to accept roles. Both lines are deep. Neshaminy will have to throw it better this year to augment their always robust run game.

Dan Dunkin: ddunkin@phillyburbs.com; Twitter, @DanDunkin

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